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With the Coronavirus sending children home for an undetermined amount of time to create social distancing, online coursework and lesson packets appear to be what many schools have decided are the best options to continue some form of learning. With this decision coming as quickly as it did, families were left scrambling to provide not only supervision but to create a learning environment at home.
For the typical student, online learning can be a challenge, but for the most part, projects will move forward, assignments will get completed, and papers written. There is great concern in the LD, ADHD community not only about losing valuable learning ground, but about the challenges an online learning environment presents. We know students with learning disabilities may struggle with reading, vocabulary, comprehension or written output without support. While some students are fortunate enough to have assistive applications available on their devices, many rely on Intervention support in school to navigate content. Students with ADHD often struggle with the executive functions necessary to accomplish academic tasks. Of these skills, we know organization, prioritization, planning, time management, self-motivation and regulation are necessary to successfully navigate the online learning environment independently.
How then, can families support the inherent challenges a student with LD or ADHD might have during the weeks they are asked to navigate learning at home? While it is clear, for many families, the first priority is to find some sort of supervision during the workday, the following recommendations may help to get the online assignments or packet work accomplished.
- Treat the online/packet work as a typical class time. With your child/adolescent set a visual schedule on a calendar with the time dedicated to accomplishing the lessons. Schedule classwork and study times each day.
- Stick to the schedule and hold the student accountable for completing an agreed upon amount of work. Check in every day to see that the day’s work was completed. Reward follow-through with a previously agreed-upon perk.
- Talk with your student about what strategies to use when he gets stuck or needs support. Are there online resources available? What homework support can the student get in the evening? Keep a notebook available to have the student write down areas where they need help.
- Provide an organized, quiet learning space in plain view of supervision with the materials needed to successfully accomplish tasks. These may include a tech device, paper, pens, pencils, markers, calculators, scissors, and tape.
- Eliminate distractions during online learning time and build in frequent breaks. Students may be tempted to visit distracting sites. Set up a scheduled “off-task” break when the student may play a game or watch a YouTube video if necessary, but clearly establish the terms before going online.
- After the “class” work has been completed for the day, get outside for exercise, take fun brain breaks, plan one activity a day that takes the student outside of the house.
We know there will be challenges to online learning, but staying as structured as possible and setting daily routines will ease some of the challenge. Children thrive on consistency, structure, and routine. Keep this in mind as you set the structure for the coming weeks.
Do not hesitate to ask questions below. We are continuing to monitor the blog to provide any support you made need. We are all in this together!
Blogger Barbara Hunter, MEd, shares her expertise in the use of technology to support learning. If you have questions, please contact Barbara at .
